Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-09-19
Terrible 6riIne.

Henry Rledel, GERMAN weaver, at WE
mipgton. Del, about two o'clock Saturday
morning shot and killed his wife and his
nine.year. old son, while they we're lying In
bed asleep The murder is curious one,
as there was no apparent motive for sane
man to commit the deed. Last Saturday
his wife, who worked in the cotton inili
With him, and who was about TO become
mother, gave the customary two weeks DC
tics that she would quit work on Mouday
morning. When she went 70 her loom to work
Frank Ferrel the loom boss, told her that
he had secured a woman IL her place, and
rather rudey pushed her away from the
machine. This angered Riodeli, who re-
monstrated, and also quit work OF once. he
sought redress from a local justice OF TIE
peace, but was told that the expense O! ob
tanning Justice would cost more than the
sum involved The insult 10 his wife prey-
ed on his mind, and although he vas not g
heavy drinker he INDUCED . lille too much
in beer tba: evening. On his way home he
stcpDed with friends Gud while ia rage
threatened that he would bug : pistol emo
shoot the loom boss, the foreman OF tne
mill. his own wife and child and then BIN
self He was s loving father, NnG he anG
his wife lived happily, without = serious
quarrel ever having ruiiled thei: MARTA
life He simply desired to put them oct OF
their misery. as be thought, becr9 despatch
ing himself The family ~enl 10 Phi!adei-
phia on Tuesday last, and remained until
Friday night, when they returned lie
had procured work in mil there, ana iD.
tended to move Saturday. That night he
never retired. After carrying bis little
boy TO bed he went 10 - store and bough!
bull dog revolver, with cartridges OF forty
four. calibre. He returned home ana paced
up ana down the hcuse until two o'clock
next morning He then describes what be
did as follows 81 went into my wiie's room
and first fired lwo shots at the wall 10 see II
the pisto! would wors. Then leaned over
the boy and shot my wife 10 tho forehead,
and afterwards shoi the bog in the temple.
Neither ever moved. | then shot myself,
and going back to my room, | Icy down oo
my bed and slept for fouT or five hours"
His wife pnd child presented a horrible
sight, being covered with blood, while the
pillows and bed-spreads were crimsoned.
He tried to shoot himself through the ueaG,
but the ball struck q bone and glanced oil,
and his injury is rot serious When asked
as to his motive, he said: II was tired Of
moving. Wherever l went we were among
strangers and thought that l would send
them and me 10 better world Willie was
good boy. He was Innocent and that is
why l killed him. II he had been bad l
would not have killed him. Ny wife was
all right" He seemed perfectly sane, and
answered every question put to him ration
ally. There is DO doubt that he thought
that he was delivering them from future
misery. 1t is said that he is an inliiei. lie
is strictly honest, and The fact that ae vas
recently out OF work OH account az the mill
shutting down, and thus getting into debt,
worried him considerably, bat he had paid
off all his debts He IS n bright, intelligent
man, thirtysix years o. age, and came to
this couutry eleven years ago. His wife
was one year his senior, and WAS an honest
and industrious woman. The coroner's jury
held Riedei for the crime.